The Samurai Detectives: Uncovering Edo Japan's Secrets
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Welcome to the world of "The Samurai Detectives," a popular series of historical mystery novels by Shōtarō Ikenami (1923-1990). The stories feature an upright young samurai, a sword-wielding maiden who cross-dresses, and a retired warrior.
These characters investigate a range of crimes in Edo-era Japan. The cases involve honor killings, other murders, and complex relationships.
Ikenami originally wrote the series for the monthly magazine *Shosetsu Shincho*. The stories were serialized there from 1972 to 1989.